Page 2 of The Surgeon's Secret

“Of course, Dr. Bond. What can I help you with?”

Lexi opened her mouth, trying to figure out how to say it.

“It’s…um…well…you’re my half-sister. Doctor Benjamin Mars is alsomyfather.”

Josephine’s eyes widened in shock. She looked lost for words.

Just as Lexi was about to explain further, the pager on Josephine’s desk started vibrating and beeping madly. Josephine’s graceful hand reached out and picked it up.

“Oh, shit,” Josephine muttered.

The words sounded strange coming from her.

“A multi-car collision on Southbridge. Multiple casualties. Trauma One.”

Josephine read out the message from the pager, and Lexi knew exactly what it meant.

“Well, Dr. Bond, welcome to Phoenix Ridge Hospital. Looks like you’re diving into the deep end. Let’s head straight to the ER. All hands on deck.”

When the first ambulance arrived at the ER, Lexi and Josephine were there to meet it. Josephine was talking nonstop on her mobile phone, fielding multiple calls at once. “Yes, yes, Bay One. Yes, we’re ready for that. Hold the line,” she said, tapping the screen. “Becky, yes. Penetrating trauma to the abdomen, female patient, mid-forties. Hold the line.”

Lexi watched as Josephine’s assistant made notes every time she spoke. “Where’s Maya? Someone find Dr. Maya Munroe. Page her immediately.”

The first patient was brought out of the ambulance on a stretcher. This was the one Lexi had been waiting for—complex head trauma, her specialty as a neurosurgeon. The patient was a young woman in her twenties, her blonde hair matted with blood. She was unconscious.

“We need to get her a CT scan immediately, then prep for surgery,” Lexi ordered as she examined the patient on the way to the scanner.

“Okay, Doctor,” the ER nurse replied, glancing uncertainly at Lexi.

“Bond. Dr. Lexi Bond. The new neuro attending. It’s a pleasure to be working with you today. Now let’s save this girl’s life.”

Lexi shined her flashlight into the girl’s pupils, performing a quick examination as they hurried down the corridor. It was lucky the nurses knew the way to the CT scanner, because Lexi had no idea where she was in this new hospital.

In the control room, Lexi watched the scan. It was clear: surgery was necessary immediately, or the girl would die. There was no time to waste. Lexi pressed the button to turn on the microphone.

“Get her straight to the OR. Somebody come in here and lead me there because this is my first day in this hospital. Get a surgical team ready.”

A young woman—her nametag read Ash Rosen—bustled into the control room. “Follow me, Dr. Bond. I’ll take you to the OR. The team is ready for you.”

Lexi ran after Ash. There was no time to waste, and she still needed to gown up and scrub in. This was the high-stakes environment she thrived in. Lexi was excellent in a crisis, the calmest mind for miles around, and she knew she could save this girl’s life.

Minutes later, Lexi was gowned, scrubbed, and standing in the OR, ready to begin. “Scalpel, please,” she said, her voice calm and measured as she made the first incision.

As she worked, Lexi was focused and methodical. Though time was critical, she knew that in neurosurgery, the motto was “less haste, more speed.” The brain was a delicate, complex organ. The skull protected it from most things, but once that protection was breached, things quickly became catastrophic.

Lexi quickly controlled the bleeding. The main work was done, and she knew this girl would live—with no lasting effects, most likely. Lexi allowed herself a small smile under her surgical mask. This was what she lived for. She glanced around at her new OR—her new home—and her new colleagues.

“Thank you, everyone,” she said. “We’re not done yet, but the hardest part is over. I’m confident this girl will be fine. It’s a pleasure to meet you all. I’m sorry I didn’t get the chance to introduce myself properly earlier. I’m Dr. Lexi Bond, the new attending neurosurgeon here at Phoenix Ridge Hospital.”

“Good to meet you, Dr. Bond.” The anesthetist nodded.

“Your work is incredible, Dr. Bond,” a younger woman with auburn hair said. “I’m Dr. Sloane, third-year resident. I’m looking forward to learning from you.”

Lexi smiled. Teaching was something she loved, and the fact that Phoenix Ridge was a teaching hospital had drawn her here, as well as wanting to meet her sister.

Another thing Lexi loved about this hospital was that the staff were all women. She’d never seen that before, and she couldn’t wait to immerse herself in it. She was tired of working under men who were a constant source of misogyny and harassment. It was exhausting. Lexi couldn’t imagine how nice it would be to not be surrounded by men anymore, especially men who thought they were better than her. The world of surgeons was full of arrogant men who looked down on her just because she was a woman. But Lexi knew she was exceptional, and no one could take that away from her.

After finishing the surgery and scrubbing out, Lexi headed to the surgeons’ locker room to clean up.

---